ULC NEWS

news January

The Christmas season has ended with a wonderful holiday of Epiphany, the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. Festive worship services were conducted in the congregations of the Ukrainian Lutheran church. "This is my Son whom I liked," with these words the Lord revealed the One He sent to stand under
the Law in order to redeem us, sinners. "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4).

Congregations of the Ukrainian Lutheran church celebrated the day of circumcision of our Lord Jesus Christ. A special festive service was held in Kremenets, Western Ukraine. They consecrated icons that from now on will decorate the local Lutheran church. Pastor Oleh Okruhin conducted an evening service in the Resurrection congregation. After the service the children's choir Angel presented its program.

Bishop of the ULC V'yacheslav Horpynchuk went to the United States of America to lecture at the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, to participate in the Theological Symposium, and to visit sister churches there.

January 7, 2004. Ukrainian Lutherans have celebrated Christmas. This wonderful celebration of Incarnation of our Lord and Savior was especially beautiful this year. Christmas worship service and concerts to praise of the Son of God took place all over Ukraine. For the first time the Ukrainian Lutheran congregations used new Ukrainian Lutheran Worship Books.

During the Christmas liturgy and concert in the "Resurrection" congregation in Kyiv.

Christmas Greeting of the Bishop of the Ukrainian Lputheran Church

CHRIST IS BORN! LET'S PRAISE HIM!

Dear Brothers and Sisters!
The Gospel of John reads, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). These wonderful words reveal the great truth about the birth of our Savior. This birth was a unique one because it was not the birth of an ordinary person. It was the incarnation of the eternal God. The wonder of wonders- the incarnation of God. He became a human being but a sinless one. The Word became flesh full of grace and truth to dwell among us.
Dear in Christ, give special praise to God this Christmas season. The Son of God, full of grace and truth was born to take all our sins, trespasses and all our faults. He was born to fulfil the Holy Law for us and to die for our guilt. He fulfilled that on the Calvary. So, our today's words, "Christ is born!" naturally make us respond, "Let's praise Him!"

Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God resurrected on the third day after his death to proclaim our justification. The Son of God ascended to heaven and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. At the same time He continues to dwell among us. Through the Gospel God proclaims the Good News of forgiveness of our sins. The Word that became flesh full of grace and truth is dwelling among us in the Holy Lord's Supper that we can enjoy every Sunday and every holiday. The Word became flesh so that we can dwell in His grace and truth. On the last day God Jesus Christ will raise us from the dead, will give us perfect bodies sanctified by His grace and truth. And this is another reason to rejoice on Christmas day and declare, "Christ is born! Let's praise Him!"

V'yacheslav Horpynchuk
Bishop of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church

A wonderful Christmas gift for the Ukrainian Lutherans was delivered by the "Lutheran Heritage Foundation." The LHF has published The Ukrainian Lutheran Worship Book. While using the Ukrainian Evangelical Worship Book (prepared in 1933 by Theodor Yarchuk, a Ukrainian Lutheran pastor), the ULWB has also many fully-harmonized Christian hymns as well as Dr. Luther's Small Catechism and the Augsburg Confession. The new Worship Book is designated primarily for the worship services. But taking into account its contents (Christian hymns and Catechism), it can also be helpful for morning and evening family devotions, Bible classes etc.